Fine-Tuning with Drew Taylor: The Near Demise of WDAS and Animation History

Animation News and Previews

• 📚 Drew Taylor and Jim Hill discuss the upcoming "The Art of Onward" book, set for release in March.
• 🎬 A new trailer for "Onward" is highlighted, showcasing expanded world-building and characters like the Manticore voiced by Octavia Spencer.
• 🚀 The trailer for "Onward" will be shown before "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker," while "Spies in Disguise" is also discussed with positive early reviews.

Blue Sky Studios and Future Projects

• 🗓️ "Spies in Disguise" is set for a Christmas Day release, but concerns are raised about the long gap until the next Blue Sky project.
• ⏳ The animated feature "Nimona" has faced multiple release date shifts, now slated for January 2022, raising questions about its theatrical release.

Disney Animation Shorts and Features

• 🌟 Drew Taylor shares his experience with "Myth," a new VR short from Walt Disney Animation Studios, praising its immersive quality and production design by Britney Lee.
• 🏆 "Myth" is noted for pushing storytelling boundaries in VR, though its accessibility for awards consideration is questioned due to its format.
• 💰 "Frozen 2" has surpassed $1 billion worldwide, becoming the sixth Disney film to do so in the year, with significant merchandise sales discussed.

Film Production and Studio Challenges

• 🎬 The production of "Cats" is detailed, with revelations that the film was still being finished days before its premiere and was only partially complete for early press screenings.
• 📺 The discussion touches on the Netflix series "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power" and the upcoming "He-Man" reboot, noting the production differences between the two.
• 💥 The "Harley Quinn" animated series is praised for its writing and humor, despite its adult themes and violence, drawing comparisons to "Archer."
• 🌟 "Steven Universe Future" is discussed as an epilogue to the series, exploring a less confident Steven and new character dynamics.
• 🎬 Dean DeBlois signs a new deal with Universal and DreamWorks for live-action and animated projects, including "Treasure Island" and "Micronauts."
• 🐕 Disney Plus is focusing on dog-related content with "Togo" and a "Pick of the Litter" documentary series, alongside live-action adaptations like "Mulan" and "The Aristocats."

The Aristocats and Walt Disney's Legacy

• 🎩 The history of "The Aristocats" is explored, noting it was the first film put into production after Walt Disney's death, based on his initial concept for "The Wonderful World of Color."
• 📉 "Sleeping Beauty's" box office underperformance in 1959 severely impacted Walt Disney Animation Studios, leading to significant staff cuts and a shift towards simpler, more affordable films.
• 🎨 Walt Disney's complex relationship with animation technology and his team is highlighted, particularly his initial dissatisfaction with the xerography process used for "101 Dalmatians," which led to stress for animator Ken Anderson.
• 💡 "The Aristocats" is credited with keeping feature animation alive at Disney during a challenging period, followed by "Robin Hood" and eventually "The Rescuers" in 1977.
• 🗣️ The episode concludes with a discussion of "Light the Fuse" podcast and other Jim Hill Media podcasts, encouraging listeners to rate and subscribe.